Wyoming grabs quartet of Colorado commits on early signing day

Selections showcase program's rising profile locally

By Kyle Newman

The Denver Post

Posted:
12/20/2017 06:29:06 PM MST

Updated:
12/20/2017 06:29:27 PM MST

The University of Wyoming, located about 30 miles from the Colorado border, has long been considered an honorary member of the state's college football collective. So when coach Craig Bohl took over the Cowboys in 2014, he knew his program couldn't merely play second fiddle in the regional recruiting battle.

"We looked at a blueprint that had been established when the Cowboys were successful," Bohl said. "Anytime the Cowboys were successful, there was a long history of recruiting out of the state of Colorado. The state of Colorado was underrepresented on our roster when we arrived four years ago."

Bohl's efforts to "double-down on Denver" with an old-school approach that made him and his staff regular fixtures on sidelines in the metro area have paid off. Laramie is no longer a proverbial backup. It's a bonafide first choice in the minds of many Division I-caliber Colorado high school football players.

Wyoming secured four local commitments during Wednesday's early signing period — Grandview wideout Gunner Gentry, Legend defensive back/linebacker Chad Muma, Overland defensive back Cameron Murray and Windsor offensive lineman Zach Watts. Muma, Murray and Watts all turned down Colorado State for Wyoming, and none of the four had an offer from the University of Colorado.

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"Wyoming knows there's kids in Colorado who can actually play football, and who understand the game, and have a strong passion for the game," Gentry said. "They recruit in Colorado because they know the talent that's here, and that it's overlooked."

So when did sleepy little Laramie (population 32,000) become on par with Fort Collins?

According to all four recruits, it's partly due to performance on the field — "they're getting more depth every year, and you can sense the momentum," Watts noted — as well as the Wyoming staff's tangible commitment to establish a presence in the state. The Cowboys' 2017 roster is made up of 22.8 percent Colorado players.

That number is lower than CSU (35.8) and CU (34.1) but is still a decent chunk for an out-of-state program that places a priority on relationship and trust throughout the recruiting process.

"I think the recruiting around here speaks for itself — Colorado schools, I wouldn't say they recruit local players last, but Wyoming definitely took care of me first," Murray said. "That was huge in my decision."

And while the Cowboys made Overland's best defensive player feel at home, they also never backed off their interest in Gentry, Muma and Watts, even as they each suffered injuries over the course of the past year. Gentry shattered his thumb early this fall, while Muma (who had surgery in the spring for torn patella tendon) and Watts (who recently had a scope on an injured knee) never felt a disconnect with Wyoming.

"When I hurt my knee back in April, Wyoming always stuck with me and supported me through that," Muma said. "Whereas I kind of lost communication with CSU, who took a step back."

And while all four players initially expressed interest in playing in Boulder, that interest wasn't reciprocated — which is fine, they understand, but they also won't forget.

"CU said I wasn't really what they were looking for in terms of speed, the hands, the route running ability," Gentry said. "But that's fuel to the fire — they've doubted me, and it's all good, but it's also motivation to prove them wrong."

That's exactly what Gentry's older brother, Tanner Gentry, did as a little-recruited wideout out of Grandview, too. He wasn't offered by CU or even CSU for that matter, yet went on earn second-team all-conference honors in 2016. And it's the Gentrys of the state that the Cowboys are intent on signing.

"We're going to try to sign as many Colorado kids as we can based on if they fit our profile," said Gordie Haug, Wyoming's Director of Recruiting.

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